Making history with Prop. 32

Californians head to the polls, being told by critics that our vote “doesn't matter” in the presidential election. And there is no governorship race on the ballot, nor any other state constitutional offices. So why bother to vote?

Because, a century ago, Gov. Hiram Johnson understood that power can best be overcome by the people and a ballot in their hands. He understood that politicians nary are there to protect the public, but actually that the public – empowered with direct democracy and the right to vote on a peoples' initiative – are the best defense of democracy and our rights.

Today, Proposition 32 is on the ballot, and, if enacted by the voters, it will become the game-changer that truly has the power to cut the special money interests that have tilted the political playing field of Sacramento in favor of corporate and union interest – at the expense of millions of other Californians.

To date, some $70 million has been spent to try to convince the voters that Prop. 32 is “deceptive.” This money has largely been bundled and spent by the executive boards of public sector unions, who clearly understand that Prop. 32 would erode their ability to obtain sweetheart deals from Sacramento politicians.

Clearly, Tuesday represents a “which way forward” moment in our state's history.

Californians understand that Sacramento is broken and that special interests – whether from the left or the right – have crowded us out.

We also understand that corruption is rampant in a state that is fueled by money and lobbyists who wine and dine legislators and stuff their campaign coffers with checks. We know that they have forgotten that they are supposed to speak for us and our children. We understand that money speaks louder than our families.

Having served in the Legislature, I understand how that robbing of the people's voice has occurred. I witnessed the “you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours” transactions made out of public sight. These transactions have resulted in a public education system that has failed parents and children, year after year, yet have enriched the largest teachers' association which is able to literally intimidate legislators into not even voting for the most sensible of bills: like adopting sound procedures for firing teachers who have sexually abused innocent children.

It's no wonder the voters are cynical. After all, just last month, two more cities – San Bernardino and Compton – notified the California Public Employees Retirement System that they could no longer afford to make full payments on the lucrative pensions that government employee unions negotiated for their members. And a few days earlier we saw yet another elected official arrested in Los Angeles on accusations of rewarding campaign donors with discounted property tax bills.

And just this week we witnessed teachers unions in several school districts sabotaging efforts to win federal education dollars for their cash-strapped districts because they didn't like that receiving these funds would require accepting a teacher evaluation system. Ironically, they still asked voters to raise taxes on themselves.

So how does this ever change? Simply rearranging the chairs on a California Titanic won't work. We need a real game-changer, one that cuts the money ties and gives power back to the people.

By voting Yes on Prop. 32, we declare that we understand that it's the people who ultimately have the power to put our families and children first. Do we dare to stand up to the special interests?

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